There is a magic in every beginning

There is a magic in every beginning.

My first Substack post. Wow. It took a while.

Huge thanks to my hero and role model when it comes to writing . Without you, I would not be here and make that step.

In the Vipassana meditation group that I’m in, we get a task each weekend. It is always something to be mindful of. Sounds simple, but has had a profound effect on my life. And today’s task is: to be mindful of beginnings.

What a coincidence.

1. Why this

The world needs spaces of true, authentic human connection. With tech rising, now more than ever before. I believe I can contribute with my reflections and sharings about my messy, imperfect process to that.

Looking back, I’ve come a long way:

From being this highly creative, sensitive kid scared of speaking in public to being comfortable speaking in front of smaller groups.

From studying economics (it was my plan B after I got rejected at the university for journalism) to ending up in the corporate sportswear industry and being in the pool of the high-potential sales employees.

From quitting corporate with the feeling of emptiness inside (most likely I experienced some form of depression back then already) to founding a sustainable sportswear startup from scratch.

From failing with the startup - we made all mistakes you can imagine, and I am happy we did - to questioning everything and after some tough sessions with my very first coach, asking myself for the first time:

What am I really good at? Why am I here? What is my task on this planet?

This was in 2018.

I was 28 at that time.

This was the time when I first got in touch with mindfulness and meditation - and I will never forget profound impact my very first meditation had. This was when I asked myself If I better become a physiotherapist, because my fellow beach volleyball colleagues were asking me all the time: Are you one?

And this was also the time when I decided to detour and start the path of coaching and guiding people. On a personal level that meant diving really deep into self-development and mindfulness. Including - up until today 4 - silent meditation retreats.

I want to be honest with you: This has been an absolute rollercoaster ride. I struggled so much to bring my message across. I struggled so much to explain the intangible in ways so that others understand. It pushed me to my very limits. And sometimes, it also disconnected me from my very core, because I thought I need to be someone else.

I might share more of that as we go along in future posts.

Today I am a founder again. Building a club for founders, solopreneurs and executives to slow down, drop the masks and help each other grow. As a person and as a business.

Three things are on my heart:

1. I want to take you on the founding “something that has never existed before” journey.

2. I know I’ve learned a thing or two about radical self-care and how to navigate the ship when the sea gets rough. My intention is also to share my knowledge and experience with you, so you can see yourself and make the changes and adjustments you need to make.

3. I am learning that we can build projects and businesses without burning out. We can do it without compromising on mental, physical, spiritual health. We can do it without neglecting our loved ones.

2. Why now?

For the last 3 years or so I’ve been writing on LinkedIn on a consistent basis. I made amazing contacts, business opportunities and even friends there.

But it is also a very crowded, marketplace kind of place. I don’t like this vibe. The further I get on my personal development journey, the less this resonates. I’m all in for our unique self expression. For writings that pour out of our soul.

This is what really interests me. This is what triggers my curiosity. This is what makes me feel alive. This is where I learn. Screw the templates. Screw the generic, surface level AI written advice.

I am not against these things. But I prefer to live in a different world. And as Ghandi said so beautifully:

Launching this space is one attempt. And I genuinely hope you get something out of it too.

3. What kind of community am I you looking to build here

This will be a space where I share my thinking, process and experience around building a brand of full self-expression. From founder to founder. My intention is to take you on the journey as it is happening. Raw, imperfect, iteration after iteration. I look forward to connect with fellow entrepreneurs build, and nurture these connections.

From past experience: friendships and business opportunities arise from that. And most importantly: It makes me feel alive. It makes me feel seen. In the end, this is what I am looking for.

You can check for yourself what it really is, that you are looking for.

4. Non-linear for the win

Substack wants me to answer this for you:

Truth is, I don’t know. I aim to write a longer post every two weeks and maybe some shorter ones when the spark of inspiration hits me. As a free subscriber, you will get what I share here. You’ll also find links to my offers, the slowdownclub, other people I really value and stuff that I find meaningful in the end of each post.

I’m so curious - where are you in your entrepreneurial journey at the moment?

Much love,

Christian

Photo by Desislava Georgieva